EmpCo Regulation (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition, Directive (EU) 2024/825)
As of today, 27 September 2026, it is compulsory to display the EU standard guarantee label online when selling via online shop platforms. Fortunately for us, this only applies as a printed copy at our market stall, as we sell our wickerware exclusively at markets.
However, this is by no means the end of the nightmare for small business owners. Thanks to the EU, a wave of warning letters is also to be expected when using terms such as ‘ecological’, ‘sustainable’, ‘biodegradable’ and many others of this kind, if one cannot provide flawless evidence to back up these claims and statements. This has been the case ever since evidence from manufacturers or official labels, such as the Blue Angel, has been required.
It really is cause for celebration when you think of the effort many sole traders would have had to put in. After all, the transition period has now come to an end.
Anyone who also runs a blog on their website should check all their posts – including those from 10 years ago – for these ‘greenwashing’ terms, and either rewrite them or even remove them altogether. If the website has been up and running for a few years, this can turn into a huge amount of work.
So in future, will every post ideally have to be checked by a solicitor before it’s published online!? EU regulatory madness in its purest form. After all, the Unfair Competition Act (UWG) and the Civil Code (BGB) still apply at national level.
So for anyone who hasn’t taken action yet, it’s high time they did.
As for the use of terms such as ‘sustainable’, ‘ecological’ and so on, I’ve at least helped myself in the blog posts by adding a footer that is automatically displayed for all old and new posts, as well as on the blog overview page (see below).
As a traditional basketry workshop, a love for nature and honest craftsmanship are close to our hearts. Please note that our blog articles often consist of personal workshop reports, historical insights, or everyday stories. If general characteristics such as "natural," "chemical-free," or "biodegradable" are mentioned in the texts, these refer solely to our untreated willow wickerwork. For quality reasons, we standardly use modern, durable cotton weaving tape when renewing chair caning. The currently valid material details, legally binding information, and appropriate care instructions for your product can be found on our information pages and in the FAQs.